Gareth Bale: Wales and Real Madrid star linked with sensational return to former club Spurs
Cardiff, Wales 18/11/19. Gareth Bale of Wales at Wales v Hungary Match Day 1 Press Conference at Hensol Castle. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD.
Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as the front runners to sign Gareth Bale from Real Madrid in the latest twist of this summer’s transfer saga.
Wales’ all-time record goalscorer has fallen out of favour with head coach Zinedine Zidane since the Frenchman returned to the Santiago Bernabeu.
It was reported earlier this week that Bale was keen on a move to fellow Premier League giants Manchester United.
However, in the latest developments, it seems a return to the club Bale spent six years at earlier in his career is his preferred destination.
This comes after Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, said a return to north London would be the winger’s favourite destination.
He told GOAL.com: “Gareth still loves Spurs. We are talking (with Spurs, Real and Bale’s camp). It’s where he wants to be.
After starting just 14 matches in La Liga last season, he appeared in front of Sky Sports cameras before the recent UEFA Nations League matches. It was not the first time he had expressed a desire to leave.
Finally time to go
The war of words between Bale and Los Blancos has gone on for several seasons now.
After his Champions League heroics against Liverpool in 2018, Bale threw his future up in the air on the pitch when speaking to BT Sport.
He scored one of the great goals in the competition with an outstanding bicycle kick, before securing the famous trophy with his second goal in the 3-1 victory.
However, he had been on the sidelines consistently under Zidane, and upon his return after being sacked, Bale has once again cut a frustrated figure in the Spanish capital.
Towards the end of last season he made the headlines for his behaviour, particularly on the substitutes bench after being snubbed for other players to come on – and in the La Liga trophy celebrations.
But it looks like the end is nigh, with Madrid finally trying to agree a loan deal and wage deferral that would make it affordable for Spurs.
Great news for Wales
A fit and firing Bale is crucial for Wales heading into Euro 2020.
Ryan Giggs’ go-to man hasn’t played over 30 games in a single season since 2014-15, and was hauled off after 45 minutes in Wales’ first Nations League tie against Finland earlier this month.
But should he move to Spurs, where he has a much better chance of starting games, he can regain the match sharpness that comes with playing week in, week out.
Will it actually happen?
As Bale pointed out in his recent interview, it is all up to the Real Madrid hierarchy.
They pulled the plug on a move to China at the last minute a year ago, but now it looks like his time is up with Los Blancos.
His dream move might not have gone exactly as he had planned, and a return to the club he left seven years ago would certainly come as a relief to many.
(Featured image: Lewis Mitchell/YCPD)
